10:57 | Washington D.C., Aug. 10.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has determined that commercial consignments of fresh pomegranate fruit (Punica granatum) can be safely imported into the continental United States from Peru.
APHIS scientists have assessed the pest risks and determined the phytosanitary measures that will mitigate plant pests and made them available for comment in a previous notice issued for public comment on March 14, 2016.
In June, after a meeting between APHIS and the National Agricultural Health Service of Peru (Senasa) in Washington D.C., a deal was struck to allow imports of Peruvian pomegranates with irradiation treatment.
Likewise, the shipments will be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from the national plant protection organization (NPPO) of Peru and inspected upon arrival in the United States.
According to Miguel Bentin, Vice President of the Peruvian pomegranate association ProGranada, the action —set to be effective on August 10— is a big step forward for us, as an association and industry.
“This comes at the right time, because the open-up of U.S. market leads to a better way to distribute our supply all over the world; this is a very good thing for everyone,” he told Portalfruticola.com
(END) MVM/RGP/RMB/MVB
Published: 8/10/2016